It’s the same equipment, same on-field drills, same time of year, but minicamp is mandatory for players and the days are longer (10 hours maximum compared in the facility to four) than in voluntary OTAs.

“I think I made a considerable amount of progress since I have gotten here," Jones said. "I should have. That is the way it is supposed to go. I still have a considerable amount to do, but I am making progress every day and where I am is certainly better than where I started.

It sure seemed Jones was getting better and better each day, culminating with him taking all of the second-team reps ahead of veteran Alex Tanney last week.

After a long weekend, Jones completed two of his first eight throws in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills that included hurry-up and goal-line situations.

Then it clicked.

Jones rebounded later in practice and used an outstretched catch by Corey Coleman to get into a rhythm of seven straight completions as he also involved Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer and Eli Penny.

“I think he’s had a really, really productive offseason,” coach Pat Shurmur said. "He’s on track with the goal to be able to be ready to play Week 1. That’s really what all the players need to be thinking. The quarterback stuff will be on the front-burner for everybody moving forward. I get that. But he’s on track.”

Eli Manning started 3-for-4 but did not participate in the hurry-up drill as his backups all took a turn. He took the bulk of the goal-line and red-zone snaps.

Manning’s overall numbers were softened by a couple drops from running back Wayne Gallman, but he went 6-for-6 later in practice.

Jones is headed back to his alma mater, Duke, in his home state of North Carolina to train. Manning will stay local, where targets like tight end Evan Engram remain.

“For me, a big thing is seeing defenses and seeing routes — just how they open up and making those decisions," Jones said. “For a quarterback, you want to make the right decision as quick as you can. That has a lot to do with defense anticipating a coverage and being able to get the ball out on time.”